Significant Collaboration Between India And Malaysia On International Arbitration

Update: 2024-01-25 12:16 GMT
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The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), Malaysia conducted a seminar on the “Perspectives from the Bench and Bar on Arbitration in India and Malaysia” on January 16, 2024 at Kuala Lumpur.

Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India was the Chief Guest. The Indian delegation was headed by Mr. Anil Xavier, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Centre for Arbitration & Mediation (APCAM) and Ms. Iram Majid, Executive Director of APCAM.

The program started with the opening remarks by Datuk Sundra Rajoo, Director of AIAC. He provided valuable insights into the perspectives and structure of arbitration in Malaysia, emphasizing both similarities and differences with the Indian jurisdiction. Ms. Iram Majid, ED of APCAM provided India's recent advancements in the arbitration industry, shedding light on the amendments to the Indian Arbitration Act. Mr. Justice Suryakant gave the keynote address giving a comprehensive overview of the arbitration landscape in India, discussing recent landmark cases and offering a comparative analysis of ADR perspectives across various Asian jurisdictions. This was followed by a Fireside Chat, moderated by the Justice Dato' Mary Lim Thiam Suan, Judge, Federal Court of Malaysia, wherein Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Mr. Anil Xavier and Tan Sri Dato' Cecil Abraham (International Arbitrator and Advocate, Malaysia) participated. The discussion delved into various themes related to the evolving ADR practices in Malaysia and India, providing a platform for insightful dialogue.

In a significant stride towards promoting arbitration across the Asia-Pacific region, APCAM successfully signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AIAC and the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution (AIADR). The signing was done by the President of AIADR and Director of AIAC, Datuk Sundra Rajoo, and Chairman of APCAM, Mr. Anil Xavier. This mark the initial commitment of both entities to delivering invaluable services to the ADR community.

The event was attended by judges of the High Court of Malaysia, judges of the Court of Appeal, Malaysia, senior advocates, international arbitrators, business leaders, diplomats, academics, students and members of the ADR community locally and internationally. The event concluded with a networking session at the AIAC's Pavilion, where participants gathered to forge connections and continue discussions, aiming to influence the arbitration landscape in both regions.